International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) 2001

TLDR

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is a WHO‑developed framework that replaced the earlier CIDH model and has been adopted by 191 countries. ICF aims to provide a neutral, unified language for describing health and disability, emphasizing structure, function, activities, and participation to support public‑health practice. The ICF incorporates an environmental factors section to capture how surroundings interact with health conditions to either cause or mitigate disability. Revisions in the ICF have led to substantial changes, and WHO estimates that disabilities account for 500 million years of life lost annually, more than half of the years lost to premature death.

Abstract

The approach which had been being employed to date for dealing with and classifying those aspects related to health and disability have been revised and updated thanks to the World Health Organization (WHO) having drafted the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, which has now been accepted 191 countries after revamping the prior model and reaching a consensus regarding a new international model for describing and measuring health and disability. As background information, it must be recalled that the Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (CIDH) previously in effect was first published by the WHO in 1980. The process of revising this classification has resulted in some changes of far-reaching importance. The change in the name has been aimed at reflecting the wish to replace the negative perspective of impairments, disabilities and handicaps for a more neutral view of structure and function, considering the positive perspectives of activities and of participation. Another new aspect has been that of including a section related to environmental factors in recognition of their importance, given that by interacting with the health condition they may give rise to a disability, or, at the opposite end of the scale, may restore functioning. The data available has enabled the WHO make estimates including that of some 500 million years of life being lost annually due to disabilities related to health problems, which totals over one half of the years lost annually due to premature deaths. The main objective of this new classification is that of providing the conceptual framework by means of unified, standardized language with a view to of the underlying challenges, setting out a valuable instrument of practical use in public health.